It all started, rather brilliantly, with a broken piece of equipment. Back in 1877, the All England Croquet and Lawn Tennis Club needed money to fix a pony-drawn roller used to maintain their lawns. Their solution? Host a tennis tournament. Lawn tennis had only existed for two years at that point, and the viewing stand held a grand total of 30 people. Over 200 turned up anyway.
That was Wimbledon. Born out of necessity, immediately oversubscribed and somehow still going strong 149 years later.
What began as a fundraiser in a South London suburb is now the most prestigious tennis tournament on the planet – a two-week event that stops the nation, fills our screens with extraordinary athleticism and gives everyone a perfectly good reason to drink Pimm’s at 2pm on a Tuesday without judgement. We love it.
So as Wimbledon 2026 draws near, the real question isn’t whether you’ll be watching – it’s how. And we’d gently suggest that this is the year you do it properly.
A garden party is the move. Get your guests dressed in their best whites, scatter some garden games around the lawn, make sure the strawberries and cream situation is well stocked and create the kind of afternoon that feels genuinely special rather than just another thing you watched on the telly. All it takes is a bit of intention – and the right catering partner.
That’s where Hog Roast Harrogate comes in.
Yes, we’re known for our hog roasts – but our menus run a lot deeper than that. So whether you’re after a traditional roast dinner spread, a BBQ feast that the whole crowd can get behind or if you want to go somewhere more adventurous with our Southern Slow Roast menu or some proper alfresco grazing options, you’re in the right place. Nothing is off the table, so to speak.
There’s also no awkward guest minimum or maximum to worry about, and at Hog Roast Harrogate we’re firm believers in giving people genuinely luxurious flavours at prices that don’t make your eyes water. Just tell us what you’re envisioning and we’ll help you build something that fits perfectly.
149 years of Wimbledon history. One summer afternoon in your garden. Make it count with Hog Roast Harrogate by booking us between the 29th of June and the 12th of July.
